Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

Share your news story
Call 01252 555021
Email eleanor.m.jones@timeinc.com
@ eleanor_jones_
US dressage video sparks debate on
qualification criteria and judging
THE issue of “bad” riding, horse
welfare and when officials can
step in has raised its head again
as video emerged of an amateur
dressage rider at a US show.
Footage of one combination
riding at inter II level shows the
rider using her whip, and kicking
while wearing spurs, as she
attempts some movements, while
the horse can be seen at times
bucking and tail-swishing.
The video sparked debate
online, with some criticising
the rider while others spoke
out against “bullying” personal
comments, or said judges should
have stopped the tests.
Hallye Griffin, dressage
managing director of US
Equestrian (USEF), said that
apart from a score required to
qualify for freestyle competitions,
USEF “does not have rules in
place regarding riding standards
or qualifying requirements to
move up the levels”.
There is a USEF rule outlining
possible reasons for elimination,
which states that during a class
or test, the judge at C has the
authority to eliminate for reasons
including “cruelty and abuse”.
“Performance standards and
qualifying requirement proposals
have been and continue to be
explored,” Ms Griffin said. “A 2008
proposal generated a great deal
of debate but little support, but
discussions have taken place to
Judges consider
riders’ aids and
effectiveness
When riding turns
‘bad’: time to act?
By ELEANOR JONES
revisit the topics. We look forward
to working with USEF affiliate
the US Dressage Federation,
in obtaining feedback and
coordinating forums on the issue.”
Top British dressage rider and
H&H columnist Anna Ross said
one UK rule could help prevent
scenes such as the one filmed.
“It can be a very blurred line
between bad riding and a welfare
FIVE-YEAR BAN FOR SHOWJUMPER
issue,” she told H&H. “You could
say anything that’s uncomfortable
for the horse is a welfare issue,
and people make a lot of fuss
about balanced riders whose
horses are a centimetre behind
the vertical, but bad riding can be
much worse.”
Anna said she believes rules
should “protect horse and rider”,
including those riders who may
“get a bit ahead of the game”.
“As trainers, we have to point
people the right way but some
seem to think we can physically
stop someone competing, which
we can’t,” she said.
“I think we’ve got a really good
system in Britain. You qualify with
a certain score for prix st georges
(PSG), but if you get a score under
a certain level, it means you have
to requalify.
“Judges try not to humiliate
people but rules should protect
the horse.”
A British Dressage (BD)
spokesman said that to compete
at PSG, riders must achieve 62%
or above in advanced 102 or 105
or FEI young rider level in the
previous 12 months. Should a
rider score below 50% at PSG or
above, he or she has to requalify.
“At the heart of our sport is
the horse and its welfare must
be paramount at all times,” she
added. “When judging a test, at
any level, effectiveness and aids
of the rider are considered and
marked. If the horse’s welfare is
compromised by misuse of aids,
the judge reserves the right to
eliminate the combination from
the competition immediately on
welfare grounds.”
BD rules state that riders must
keep both hands on the reins,
apart from to salute or pat the
horse, so taking a hand off to use
the whip would mean elimination.
THE video was released during the same week Austrian showjumper
Bernhard Maier was banned from equestrian events for five years.
Mr Maier, whose round on Paddys Darco that ended in elimination
at a one-star show in June 2017 was filmed and widely shared online, is
forbidden to enter events until December 2022, as a rider, spectator or
coach. He was also fined €5,000 (£4,400).
The Austrian federation said the rider had shown “unsportsmanlike
behaviour”, threats to third parties and “overburdening” his horse, as
well as “damaging the reputation of equestrian sports”.
The punishment was not only for the show in June, the federation
clarified, as there had been a negative response to his riding last
March, as well as arguments at shows.
A report to which the federation’s statement directs online readers
states that his “list of offences was long”.
Last June, Mr Maier released a statement in which he admitted he
is not a strong rider, but that he had completed harder courses than
the one shown in the video. He said he had been suffering from cardiac
problems and was not feeling well, and that a smear campaign was
being run against him, which he believed was due to envy of himself
and his daughter, showjumper Johanna Sixt.
“It always has been important to me that the sport is fair and good
sporting results are achieved for [Austrian riding],” he said.
HORSES
IN THE NEWS
EDWULF
The racehorse who collapsed
and nearly lost his life at
Cheltenham last year has
won the Irish Gold Cup
(racing, p64). “I can’t stress
enough the job the vets did
and how well he was looked
after at Martinstown Stud
over the summer,” said trainer
Joseph O’Brien.
PORTERSIZE JUST A JIFF
Irish event rider Camilla
Speirs has announced the
retirement of her pint-sized
four-star partner, aged 18. The
15.1hh part-bred Connemara
took Camilla from Pony
Club to the Olympic Games.
The pair competed at
Badminton five times, two
World Equestrian Games,
an Olympics, two senior
European Championships
and four Nations Cups.
WHISPER
The Grand National hopeful
trained by Nicky Henderson
has been ruled out for
the season following a vet
inspection. The Grade Onewinning
10-year-old had been
giving a 33/1 chance for
Aintree’s iconic race but “an
issue reared its ugly head”
and he was not entered.
8 February 2018 Horse & Hound 5